When Mohammed Kudus joined Ajax from Nordsjaelland during the summer of 2021, the Ghana international arrived in Amsterdam as a box-to-box midfielder.
How times have changed. The Ajax supporters will not look back on the ill-fated Alfred Schreuder era with much fondnes. But the man who tried and failed to step into Erik ten Hag’s shoes deserves some credit for transforming Kudus from an £8 million squad player into a man who could soon join Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Antony in the pantheon of Ajax’s biggest ever sales.
It was Schreuder who had the bright idea of turning Kudus into an attacker last summer. Picking up the baton, interim coach Jon Heitinga has tweaked things slightly over the last few months, handing Kudus a new role on the right hand side of his front three with rather explosive results.
Kudus is on a run of six goals in 10 league games. All but one of those have come since he started being fielded on the right, forming a fearsome understanding with the uber-intelligent Dusan Tadic in the final third.
No Ajax player has scored more goals this season than Kudus’ 18.
Could Celtic’s Liel Abada replace Mohammed Kudus at Ajax?
“In his technique, dribbling and power, Mo is not lacking at all,” says former Ghana ace George Boateng. “Mo can really become a world-class player in the next 18 to 24 months.”
“You can now see what John Heitinga’s confidence does to him. He repays (the faith) in full. I am convinced that Mo can compete in the Premier League. And also in other top competitions. He is really an amazing talent.”
According to 90Min, the £40 million-rated Kudus may soon be handed the opportunity to prove Boateng right; the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United among his admirers. Suggestions from Sky Sports that Ajax are ‘positioning themselves’ ahead of a potential summer move for Celtic’s Liel Abada meanwhile, may be with Kudus’ exit in mind.
Abada, since joining Celtic from Maccabi Petah Tikva for a bargain £3.5 million a year-and-a-half ago, has scored or assisted a fantastic 45 goals from the right wing. His numbers as strong as ever, even while losing his place in Ange Postecoglou’s starting XI.
Abada, if he was to join Ajax this summer, would need to produce similar numbers if he’s to fill a Kudus-shaped void at the Johan Cruyff Arena. No pressure, then.
“I believe he will be sold in the summer,” claims Avi Luzon, the Maccabi Petah Tikva president.
“(Celtic) offered him a contract extension. And I know he didn’t agree, because he wants to be sold. I don’t know the names of teams, but there are offers.”
While a very different sort of right-winger than Kudus – more direct, more ‘old-school’ if you will – Abada remains the epitome of the ‘typical Ajax signing’. Young, hungry, and brimming with re-sale potential.
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